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Minesweepers, Coastal (Underwater Locator) were designed to locate mines and other underwater obstacles, rather than to sweep them. Of the 50 AMCUs that existed, all except one were originally other type of craft. Bittern (AMCU 43), was built from the keel up for the purpose. All AMCUs on the U. S. Naval Vessel Register, were reclassified Coastal Minehunters (MHC), 7 February 1955.The Osprey Class Coastal Minehunters are mine hunter-killers capable of finding, classifying and destroying moored and bottom mines. the Osprey Class have glass reinforced plastic hulls designed solely for mine hunting, the technique of locating mines with sonar and neutralizing them with a remotely controlled underwater vehicle. A precise navigation system is installed to integrate the mine hunting sonar with the mine neutralization system. The ship's mission is to clear harbor, coastal and ocean waters of acoustic, magnetic, pressure, and contact-type mines, utilizing reconnaissance, classification, and neutralization tactics.